Featured Speaker, Brad Bright

The Alpha Center is honored to feature a number of talented speakers for the 2011 Banquet.

Featured Speaker: 

Brad Bright is the youngest son of Bill and Vonette Bright, the founders of Campus Crusade for Christ.

Brad graduated from WheatonCollege in 1982 with a B.A. in political science and history.  He entered national politics as a result of Watergate and studying the life of William Wilberforce, the British Parliamentarian credited with ending the slave trade in the British Empire.

In the 1980’s he worked as an aide to U.S. Senator William Armstrong of Colorado, and as a deputy director of the National Republican Congressional Committee.  In addition, he served as the director of an Atlanta based foundation which promoted volunteerism in the inner city.

At the age of 31, he joined the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ, convinced that the only long-term effective solution to society’s problems must begin with the spiritual dimension of life.  He spent seven years ministering to college students at the University of Washington, and then served as the first National Director of Pinnacle Forum, a strategy to reach cultural influencers with the message of Jesus Christ.

Today, Brad serves as the president and CEO of Bright Media Foundation, an affiliate of Campus Crusade for Christ.  His primary focus is in his role as the director of DISCOVER GOD, a strategy to help transform America by changing America’s view of God.

He is the author of GOD is the Issue, a book to help Christian laypeople co-opt the cultural dialogue, making God the issue instead of continually reacting to the myriad of symptomatic ills throughout culture.  The book is predicated on his father’s statement, “We can trace all our human problems to our view of God.”

He resides in Orlando, Florida, with his wife, Kathy, and their two teenage children.

Master of Ceremony, Rich Bott

Master of Ceremony:

Richard (Rich) Bott, II serves as President/CEO of Bott Radio Network. He is responsible for the acquisition and development of new radio stations, as well as the general management of Bott Radio’s eighty plus radio stations. Rich began his broadcasting career as a teenage radio announcer hosting the “Teen Tempo” broadcast on KCCV in the early 1970's. In 1981, Rich graduated with a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Graduate School of Business. He then rejoined Bott Radio Network as General Manager of WFCV in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Rich later returned to the Network headquarters in the Kansas City area where he serves today. In addition to his responsibilities as President/CEO of Bott Radio Network, Rich serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of National Religious Broadcasters.In addition to his service as President/CEO and Board Member of BRN, Rich Bott serves on the Executive Committee as a Vice President and Board Member of National Religious Broadcasters. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Life Issues Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Back to the Bible, Lincoln, Nebraska. He also serves on the Board of Governors of Council for National Policy, Washington, D.C.

Guest Speaker, Pat Castle

Special Appeal:

Pat is a catalyst for Pro Life!  He grew up in Sioux Falls, SD.  After graduating from the Air Force Academy in 1993, his military service was in IL, TX, CO, CA, and Turkey (currently a Lt. Col. at Scott AFB near St. Louis).  He was blessed to unite with Angi in the Sacrament of Marriage in 1994.  They teamed up with God to welcome their daughters Paige (2000) and Grace (2003).  Pat earned analytical chemistry degrees from the U of IL (MS 1994, PhD 2005).  His Air Force career is split between bioenvironmental engineering (OSHA, EPA, CBRN) and teaching chemistry at the Academy.  Pat led the development of the Academy Dean’s model program for integrating ethics into the curriculum (1997-2000) which Pat rejuvenated with the Academy’s Center for Character & Leadership Development (2008-2009). Pat is tethered to the Catholic Christian faith but actively ecumenical.  He is a member of the Knights of Columbus (since 1992).  In addition to the LIFE Group Devotions (est. 2007), his ministry leadership includes 6 yrs with Bible study groups (founded Christians In Action, founded Chemists for Christ, Catholic Men of the Chapel); 6 yrs with youth education and retreat programs; and 8 yrs with Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).  Pat is the LIFE Runners (est. 2008) co-founder and coach.  His best marathons include the 2007 Marine Corps (2:53), 2008 Pikes Peak (17th), 2008 Chicago (2:54), 2009 Boston (2:59), 2009 Great Wall of China (2nd), 2010 St. Louis (2:59), and 2010 Sioux Falls (7th).  Pat’s license plate holder reads, “I Vote Pro Life.”  “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Phil 4:13